China and Serbia signed an agreement in Belgrade on Monday to
cooperate in the setting up of a Confucius Institute here, the
first of its kind in the Balkans.
The agreement on the founding of the Confucius Institute, an
overseas organ for promoting the Chinese language, was signed by
China's Nanjing Normal University board president Shen Jian and
Belgrade University Chancellor Dejan Popovic.
According to the agreement, the Confucius Institute involves
Chinese language teaching, training of teachers, Chinese language
tests and contests as well as introduction to China's history and
status quo.
Addressing the signing ceremony, Shen said his university was
authorized by the Confucius Institute headquarters in Beijing to
cooperate with Belgrade University to realize the project.
He said his university would do its utmost to support the
project and expand exchanges and cooperation between the two
universities and countries.
By March 2006, there were 54 Confucius institutes being set up
or under construction in 30 countries and regions, according to the
Chinese Ministry of Education.
"The spreading of Chinese culture and of the teachings of the
great Chinese philosopher are the basic tasks of the Institute,"
Chancellor Popovic said after the signing of the agreement.
The already exceptional relations between the academic circles
of Serbia and China, now have a new dimension, said Popovic, adding
that the two universities would very soon establish a series of
other forms of cooperation.
The signing ceremony was attended by Chinese ambassador to
Serbia-Montenegro Li Guobang and senior officials of the Belgrade
University.
In January 2005, China and Serbia signed a memo on education
cooperation, including the setting up of a Confucius Institute in
Belgrade.
(Xinhua News Agency May 16, 2006)
